PWHL playoff spots on the line as Toronto, Montreal clash in record-setting game

There will be more a little more on the line than usual when Toronto visits Montreal on Saturday in PWHL action.

Both teams have a chance at clinching a playoff spot in the inaugural season of the six-team league. Toronto, which currently holds down first place, can lock up a ticket with a single point from the game. A loss in overtime or shootout will do it. Failing that, Boston failing to beat New York in regulation in the second game on Saturday will also give them a playoff ticket.

Montreal, just two points back and in third, can secure its spot with a win over Toronto in any fashion combined with a New York win over Boston in any fashion. A win in regulation and Boston getting two points or less against New York will also do it.

Regardless of the outcome, the game at the Bell Centre set a new attendance record for women’s hockey at 21,105. The previous record of 19,285 was set two months ago at Scotiabank Arena, on Feb. 16, in the “Battle on Bay Street” between Toronto and Montreal.

"Being able to be in that historic moment here at the Bell Centre is going to be unbelievable," said Montreal's Marie-Philip Poulin in a statement. "In terms of women’s hockey being able to fill that ice is going to be surreal.”

Toronto has won all four encounters between the two teams this season, though Montreal is coming off a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over second-place Minnesota on Thursday night.

Minnesota can also lock up a playoff spot with a regulation win in its game in Ottawa on Saturday evening. A victory in overtime or shootout, combined with Boston earning two points or less against New York could also do it. If not, Minnesota gaining just a single point, combined with a Boston defeat in any fashion will also get the job done.